Smartphone Industry: What Is The Role Of Smartphones During COVID-19?

 

Besides chatting with a friend, scrolling endlessly through Instagram, and sharing memes on Facebook, the usage of smartphones has increased greatly during the pandemic.

In the times of Coronavirus, the usage of smartphones has become crucial. We have become completely reliant on our smart devices to perform various day-to-day tasks and keep a tab on all COVID-19 related updates.

Through this article, we would discuss some of the key ways in which smartphones can support in a scary situation like the viral pandemic. Here we go!

• Connecting Through Virtual Mediums

        

Social distancing is extremely important in order to flatten the curve of this deadly disease. Though we can’t hang out with our friends, with smartphones we can stay in virtual touch with our nearest and dearest. Video conferencing is a saviour in such difficult times as when we couldn’t step outside or hold social gatherings, it has helped a lot of people to combat the feelings of isolation and loneliness.

• Online Shopping

The usage of online e-commerce platforms has increased globally due to the fear and tension among people worried about getting exposed to this infectious disease. COVID-19 has changed the fundamental shopping habits of most people. Through smartphones, almost everyone has turned to online shopping for their essential goods and other needs rather than in-store shopping. It is easy, safe and convenient to shop online, a trend that will continue to boom even after the crisis has ended.

• Rise of Digital Payment

In order to reduce the transmission of the virus through paper, more and more people are switching to digital modes of payment. Digital payments are accessible and hassle-free. You just need to own a smartphone, internet connection, and any digital payment app like Google Pay, Paytm, PhonePe etc. to just tap and pay within seconds. COVID-19 has compelled everyone to go for cashless payments and it is definitely a great way to ensure safety.

• Mobile Gaming

With the shutdown of the entire nation, people reached out for online games to overcome boredom and it will continue to do so throughout the pandemic as we move towards “Unlocking”. As per an article from the economic times, time spent in mobile gaming has increased by a great extent during lockdown. Gaming is a great way to connect and spend some fun time with our family or friends. It is also a good choice to pass the time while staying cooped inside in a safe way!

• Contact Tracing Apps

Such apps are being used to slow down the spread of COVID-19. The Government has made it mandatory for office goers and non-essential staff workers to install “Arogya Setu” app in their mobiles to detect and reduce the potential risk of infection. Countries across the world are using such Coronavirus tracking apps that may work differently but serve the same purpose. These apps are a crucial tool to track the details of the people who came in contact with a Coronavirus patient.

• Smartphone-Based COVID-19 Testing

Many scientists and researchers are working on self-testing for the novel Coronavirus that can be used through smartphones. In fact, an Indian startup has already developed COVID-19 detecting app which is now undergoing clinical trials before being made available for the general public. These apps will make it a lot easier to quickly detect and reduce the spread of the virus.

Takeaway

Without any doubt, smartphones are a form of rescue in this unfortunate situation when we are forced to stay at home. While the outbreak of Coronavirus has impacted the production of smartphones, at the same time, it has also increased the demand for them to get through this difficult time. From staying occupied to helping us stay sane and safe, smartphones will continue to play a major role throughout the crisis.

How Is Augmented Reality (AR) Helping Mobile Apps to Grow?

Having a mobile app is the latest trend of almost every type of business, be it small or midsized. On top of that, businesses are also following every current digital trend that further helps them to expand their reach.

But, what’s grabbing everyone’s attention the most is the usage of modern technologies like Augmented Reality (AR) in mobile apps, which is transforming user experience and emerging as one of the best marketing strategies today.

Are you curious to know how? Read on to find out everything that AR is offering to mobile applications. 

What is Augmented Reality?

Augmented Reality is the superimposition of digital information like audio, video or image into the real world. As a result, these objects appear to be alive when you look at them through your smartphone camera. There are various types of AI that helps business to expand its reach.

One of the most used and famous apps amongst the younger generation, which has been running on AR for a long time is “Snapchat”. They’ve created filters such as a dog filter that creates ears and a nose on our face and ones that can change our voice like a baby or manly too. Isn’t it unrealistic?

AR is not limited to photo or video sharing platforms; it has already marked its presence with the immense success of games like “Pokémon Go”. If you have ever played this game or not, this game is all about catching Pokémon characters in backyards, inside player’s rooms, and beyond. Pretty interesting right?

All of this was possible due to Augmented reality, which technically tracks user locations and places Pokémon characters on their way to be caught.

There’s no doubt that AR has become a game-changer in the mobile app industry. Let’s read in detail to know how it may help your business to accelerate through mobile applications.

• AR Increases User Engagement

     

Online shopping is always troublesome for those who are unsure whether a particular product will suit them or not. Luckily, AR is breaking this barrier of online shopping and gradually easing the process from the customer point of view, as well as increasing the sales figure.

A major cosmetic brand called Sephora allows its users to try different shades of lipsticks, eyeshadows, blushes etc. on their face just by downloading their mobile app. This has helped the brand to keep its customers engaged for a longer period.

• AR Enhances User Experience

Comfort is the first and foremost thing that users get attracted to and IKEA, a multinational furniture company understood this well. Their mobile app lets the users try out their furniture without the need to step out of the house.

The IKEA Place app uses the technology of Augmented reality to allow users to visualize how particular furniture will look like when it is placed in their house. With this way, the process of shopping has become comfortable and easier.

• AR Improves Brand Reliability

Offering latest technologies and experiences to your users make them believe that your business is unique and adheres ongoing trends in technology. It helps to increase customers trust and loyalty towards your business, and using mobile apps equipped with AR will help to shape your business innovatively and be distinctive in the market.

• AR Boost Sales Figure

Using AR technology can help increase the sales of your respective brand/product. Know why?

Providing your services in an innovative and entertaining way increases the customer’s will to purchase the product. The user will be more attracted towards your product because it is informative, accessible, and unique than the rest in the market.

For example, imagine you are seeing how a pair of boots will look like in your feet via a mobile app. Wouldn’t it will be a lot easier to choose from numerous shoe types? 

Also, suppose you come across an ancient building and you are curious to know every interesting historic fact related to that establishment? What if you can get all of the information and many more that you desire, just by opening the camera on a certain app? Well, thanks to AR, it’s all becoming possible.

• AR Increases Users Reach

As discussed earlier, augmented reality transforms the process of online shopping and your business can reach a wider audience. Those people who were afraid to shop online before, are now finding the process easier because they can simply try out particular products like footwear, sunglasses, or makeup products via a mobile app in their comfortable pyjamas at home.

Final Thoughts

Augmented Reality offers a wide range of benefits for every business, be it entertainment, education, retail, gaming and many others for keeping customers engaged, and fulfilling several key goals of the business.

If you really wish to stand out from the rest of your competitors, it’s highly advised to take a look at the latest technologies like AR and see how it can help your business to grow. Just remember that your AR equipped app is simple to use and is contributing to making customer’s life easier. 

All the best!

The Future of Mobile App Development: IoT and Chatbots

Technology is constantly changing and so are the ways we interact with it. As you’ll soon see, so are the ways technology interacts with itself. For instance, when we made the move from desktops and laptops to smartphones and tablets, we gained a brand new way of interacting with it: through mobile apps that can do this, that, and pretty much anything you can think of. That was then. We’ve advanced A LOT since the first mobile app made its way into a mobile device; so much, in fact, that we are now seeing the emergence of new technologies that are impacting the future of mobile app development in a big way: IoT technology and chatbot technology.

The Future of Mobile App Development: IoT Technology

Let’s start with IoT, which is short for the Internet of Things. For those who are unfamiliar with it, IoT is basically a network of interconnected devices with humans thrown into the mix. It’s machine-to-machine communication in which devices connect with each other and the internet, which opens an avenue for A LOT. For example, pretty much every smart home device you can think of is possible because of IoT, and pretty much all of them can connect to a mobile device thanks to the internet.

In other words, whenever you turn on the air conditioner through an app, you’re using IoT. Whenever you ask Siri to turn the lights on or off, you’re using IoT. Whenever you’re checking up on your home security system while you’re on-the-go, you’re using IoT. In this way, every device in an IoT ecosystem is interconnected with each other through your mobile device and IoT integrated apps, allowing you to use it as a main interface to control all IoT apps.

Delving deeper into mobile apps for IoT, smart homes contain intelligent systems in areas like lighting, heating, air conditioning, security, cooking and even cleaning, and all can be programmed to receive instructions on how to behave from a smartphone or tablet. When you consider that the global smart home market is forecast to grow to $53.45 billion in size by 2022, up from $31.4 billion last year, you can see how popular these devices and apps are.

When it comes to IoT app development in the future, don’t be surprised to see brands make use of it even more so to improve their services and what they can offer their users. For example, imagine going shopping without actually “paying” for things, but rather simply putting things in a basket that’s connected to your phone, which automatically knows when products are taken or returned to the shelves and keeps track of them in your virtual cart. Actually, that’s already a possibility thanks to Amazon Go! Now imagine all the possibilities of what the future can hold.

The Future of Mobile App Development: Chatbot Technology

Another big change to mobile app development we’ve been seeing recently and will continue to see more of it in the future is the use of chatbots to interact with users in real-time. Unlike human representatives, chatbots can connect with countless users at once and help them all out with a good attitude. This is because chatbots are essentially computer programs that can be programmed to talk and act like a real person, and can be used as one as well. For example, if you’ve ever landed on a site and were instantly greeted by  pop-up in the bottom inquiring if you would like some help, that right there is a chatbot.

Though they are used in many websites, chatbots are more widely used in mobile apps, especially messaging apps like Facebook Messenger and Kik Messenger, or brand-owned apps like eBay and Pizza Hut. Used in this way, they can be a great helper to eCommerce businesses, who need only deploy a chatbot and let it do all the work while users interact with it and convert. Even better, they can be further modified and optimized by leveraging chat histories and relevant analytics to see what’s working and what’s not, which can lead to even more conversions.

As you may be able to tell by browsing your favorite app store or doing a quick Google search, bots are already used in practically every industry for many purposes. As we move forward, don’t be surprised to see even more businesses developing a chatbot app to uphold their strategies and reach their goals.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to the future of mobile apps, it can be safely said that IoT and chatbots both will be a big part of it. On the former, IoT allows us to connect more aspects of our lives together to create a seamless way of life that champions the very best of what life has to offer in terms of the smart home. On the latter, chatbots are quickly claiming a spot in our hearts as they help us out right when we need it most. If you’ve been thinking of venturing into mobile app development, suffice to say that both of these areas are ones you should be looking into.

Smartphone Technology Trends to Look for in 2019

        Source: omaghenterprise.co.uk

With the proliferation of mobile devices around the world, namely smartphones that come with digital assistants like Siri and Alexa that streamline our lives and make practically everything easier, it’s hard to imagine how mobile technology can improve even further than it has already. Well, whether we can believe it or not, it’s happening. And no, I’m not referring to displays that are getting smaller or larger, or headphone jacks that are disappearing in favor of wireless audio; I’m talking about actual smartphone technological innovations we’ll soon see, i.e. upcoming smartphone technology in 2019.

Before we begin, keep in mind that many of the tech trends we’re going to cover today are based in speculation and scattered reports with enough validity that they’re likely true. With that in mind, many big brands have already confirmed upcoming smartphones in 2019 and other tech upgrades they’re trying out. Let’s get started!

Smartphone Technology in 2019

As we place 2018 firmly behind us and move into 2019, it’s time to talk about a very hot topic many tech-enthusiasts cover every year: upcoming smartphone technology trends and their potential impact. So, will we finally see foldable phones that are truly foldable? What about 5G phones that run faster and have better coverage than anything we have today? Keep on reading to find out.

Multi-Camera Phones

While we saw an influx of dual-camera phones in 2018—phones with dual lense setups in which one took the pictures and the other captured the depth of field—to allow for camera features like portrait mode, 2019 seems prime for an expansion and the inclusion of camera options like wide-angle, telephoto, depth sensing and monochrome.

In fact, almost 42% of smartphones sold globally in July 2018 sported two or more rear camera sensors (27% increase in market penetration), a charge that was led by brands like OnePlus, Huawei and Apple. As for 2019 and beyond, we already have the Huawei P20 Pro, the world’s first triple lense camera, a patent by LG hinting at a smartphone with 16 lenses, and we even have a leaked photo of a Nokia smartphone with five rear camera lenses.

Source: androidauthority.com

5G-Enabled Phones

With Qualcomm introducing the Snapdragon 855 processor late last year, which will power most Android smartphones and allow them and others to connect to 5G networks that enable faster speeds and better coverage, it’s clear that 5G is soon to be mainstream. Keep in mind that it’ll take a while for this to happen—probably 2019 and 2020—so for now we’ll cover what’s expected in 2019:

● Apple: Nope, Apple doesn’t seem too keen on putting forth a 5G smartphone.

● Samsung: Samsung announced last year that they were working with South Korean telecommunication companies to release its first 5G phone, which will likely be part of the Galaxy S10 family.

● Google: Nope, Google doesn’t seem too keen on putting forth a 5G smartphone, BUT Verizon, who it’s been using as it’s exclusive carrier partner for Pixel phones, said it’s planning to roll out its 5G network this year.

● LG: In August of last year, LG confirmed that its first 5G phone will debut on Sprint in the first half of 2019, just as Sprint launches its 5G network.

● Huawei: We already know that Huawei’s first 5G smartphone is coming this year, likely before the end of June 2019, but it’s unlikely that it will be available in the US.

Foldable Phones

Will 2019 finally be the year of the foldable phone that’s not a flip phone, but an actual foldable phone? That’s what we’re here to find out. Starting with the concept of the foldable phone, this would entail a phone that can be opened up and folded at will, which would need dual displays with dual batteries. With that in mind, we already have some contenders who appear to be throwing their hats in the ring. For example, Samsung revealed the Galaxy X (or will it be Galaxy F?) with an “Infinity Flex Display at a developer conference, Motorola is apparently working on revamping the Razr as a foldable phone and was awarded a patent on a folding smartphone design that featured a heated central hinge that would “heal” imperfections in the OLED screen caused by bending, and LG appears to be debating whether to go the foldable route or take a detour and venture into optional second screens.

                                                                                             Source: digitaltrends.com

Final Thoughts

Out of all of the technological innovations we have, it’s sometimes hard to stay up-to-date with everything that’s coming out. That’s why today, we focused on something that most of us can relate to: mobile technology. Here’s what we covered:

● Multi-camera phones that allow for much more options when you want to snap a picture

● 5G-enabled phones that work much faster than any phone today, even in low-coverage areas

● Foldable phones that truly fold and unfold without screen imperfections

Enjoy what’s to come!

How Smartphones are Revolutionizing Business Growth

100 years down the line, if you were to ask historian what the biggest advancements of the early 21st century were, chances are very good that the smartphone will make the cut.

With almost 4 billion unique worldwide users, uses that number the thousands, if not millions, and the fact that over half of all internet traffic today comes from the mobile web, it’s clear that smartphones are taking over the role of “man’s best friend.”

There’s just no escaping it…businesses included.

But for them, unlike seeing smartphones as friends, they see them as opportunities for growth.

How to Use Smartphones for Business Growth

Apart from the general usefulness that smartphones bring to business in terms of mobility and 24/7 connectivity, the smartphone’s impact on business—the biggest impact—can be seen when you consider what makes them different than their normal counterparts: the “smart” that precedes it.

With that moniker comes the ability to use a multitude of applications, which come in various shapes and sizes that vary by use.

For example, you can have an app that allows you to dabble in the stock market, and another that lets you play Scrabble with people around the world.

More on the business side, smartphone business apps usually fall into two categories:

● Internal applications that benefit a company by streamlining tasks and creating more efficient work environments
● External applications that benefit a company’s customers, thereby benefiting the company itself through branding and loyalty perks, data gathering and, if an eCommerce, extra sales

After all, with increased productivity from internal apps comes business growth, and as we all know, a happy customer is a loyal customer (also key for growth), which external apps are excellent at fostering.

Internal Smartphone Business Apps

Starting with internal smartphone business apps to showcase how to use a smartphone for business, the key here is focusing on increasing productivity.

The good thing is that because applications can be programmed to do pretty much anything—helping employees throughout their day included—they can be used as tools to fix anything that’s lagging or needs improvement.

In this way, business growth comes internally, as employees are able to work harder and smarter, resulting in overall better company productivity and a better return on the business’ investment.

For example, you can create the following types of applications among many to improve your business’ processes:

● Customer Relationship Management (CRM) apps that help you manage customer relations
● Lead generation apps that help you identify potential customers
● Inventory management apps that help you keep track of everything

As to where or who to go to for inspiration, because these apps will be the tools your employees use as they go about their workdays to streamline tasks, improve efficiency and help the company run more smoothly, they’re the ones to turn to.

External Smartphone Business Apps

Unlike internal applications, the idea with external, client-facing apps is to present your company to your audience in mobile form to maximize interactions with them and make the most of them.
After all, considering that 71% of total digital minutes are spent on mobile devices, it makes sense that you’ll use mobile, their apparent preferred mode of communication, to connect.

In doing so, you’ll be turning your app into a marketing channel that works at all times of the day, and may even bring its own revenue if you can sell products and/or services through it.

However you choose to make use of external apps, some of their benefits are that they:
● Improve communication between you and your audience
● Provide information to your audience at all times of the day (even better if a chatbot is used)
● Present your offerings in a visual and convenient way
● Ensure loyalty through rewards and promotions
● Gather customer data and insights through usage statistics

More on the last point, one of the biggest benefits of client-facing apps is that they’re a literal goldmine of user data, including their browsing and purchasing habits, which is a great help when creating and tailoring marketing strategies.

The Current Smartphone Landscape

When it comes to growth through smartphones, though internal applications will give you much-needed help running things within the business, external apps are where true growth will come from.
For example, think of the 125 Million U.S. consumers who own smartphones and that, as of December 2017, 82% of online users in the U.S. used a mobile device for online shopping, with 35% being mobile-only online shoppers.

Apart from eCommerce, think of one of the main uses for apps: entertainment.

As it happens to be, the mobile entertainment market—comprised of games, videos, and music—is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 15% during the period between 2018 and 2023, with games generating $40.6 billion in revenue in 2017.

With these stats, it’s clear that pairing an app with an eCommerce business is not only the logical thing to do, but what will open doors for more sales to come through, and that putting out an entertainment app that gives your users new ways of discovering and viewing your content is exactly what they want.

Final Thoughts

With the ability to do practically anything through an app, smartphones are absolutely wonderful for businesses and consumers alike.

For example, while consumers gain a new channel to browse and buy products, or learn more about a company, businesses also gain a new channel, this time to sell to and connect with their audience, and the ability to create apps that streamline various processes.

Putting it all together, smartphones are definitely a “win’ for business.

What to Expect for the Future of Smartphone Technology

Over three-quarter of U.S. adults (77%) say they own a smartphone, up from 35% in 2011, making the smartphone one of the most quickly adopted consumer technologies in recent history. Expanding borders, there were 1.57 billion worldwide smartphone users in 2014, a number that’s expected to nearly double (2.87B) by 2020.

In other words, a lot of people use smartphones.
Why? What about smartphones is so special that practically everyone either has one or wants to get one?

For starters, look at the name. Being smartphones means that their capabilities extend past that of normal mobile phones, as they have what we now consider essential functions, such as:
● Internet connectivity, whether through WiFi or mobile data
● High-quality cameras
● Biometric authentication
● And countless applications with functions that range games to increasing productivity

After all, likened to small computers that fit in your pocket, it’s clear that advancements in smartphone technology have taken them very far from their beginnings as solely two-way communication devices.

If we’ve come this far, what’s to come? What are some future smartphone features that we can expect in the years to come?

From alternate realities that can combine the real and the imaginary, to holograms that allow for real-life interactions with the virtual, here are three things to expect from future smartphones.

1. Blockchain

For those who have either heard of blockchain, but don’t really know what it is, or have never even heard of it, blockchain is essentially a type of ledger—a very secure ledger—that’s composed of cryptographically linked records.

Each record, called a block, is time-stamped and linked to the previous block to create a decentralized database of records, which functions as a peer-to-peer (P2P) network that’s extremely secure because, once a transaction takes place, the block created is unchangeable.

With that in mind, while blockchain is often reserved for finance discussions around cryptocurrency like bitcoin, its capabilities can actually extend to smartphones. After all, having a phone that runs on blockchain means that breaches or hacking are negligible.

For example, the upcoming Finney Blockchain Phone, announced last year by Sirin Labs, is an open-source smartphone that runs on the blockchain and is designed to support inherent blockchain applications like a cold storage crypto wallet, secure exchange access, encrypted communications, and a P2P resource sharing ecosystem for payments.

With an extra layer of security provided by blockchain, future smartphones like the Finney can provide much-needed peace of mind that comes with owning a device that has practically all your information and can be hacked into in seconds.

2. Alternate Realities

Advancements in smartphone technology have made it so we can enter different realities at the touch of a button.

Case in point, virtual and augmented reality.

While virtual reality (VR) completely transports you to a virtual world, augmented reality (AR) combines the real and the imaginary by overlaying a digital layer over real-world elements.

Whatever reality you choose, the popularity of devices like the Samsung Gear VR and applications like Snapchat and Pokemon Go has opened the door for programmers and developers to dip their toes in these alternate realities.

Specific to AR, because smartphones are portable, they serve as the perfect platform for users to augment the world around them. For example, future smartphone features can include an augmented map that visually guides you where you need to go through arrows that only you see or an information hub that tells you more about what you’re looking at (e.g. looking at a restaurant presents its name, menu, ratings, and reviews, etc.).

3. Holograms

While Apple’s Retina Display that delivers resolutions so sharp that we can’t actually perceive them may be the peak for screens in terms of resolution, the addition of holograms can take the smartphone as a whole to a whole new level.

For instance, we already have 3D screens in phones like the IQH 3D, and by combining this features with projections, we can create holograms that jump from the screen.

In use, because we can ‘grab’ what’s being projected, we can digitally touch what’s on our phones. For example, we can do things like resize and rotate pictures by ‘physically’ pulling, compressing and rotating them, or create and edit 3D models as if they were physically in front of us.

Let’s Take a Second Look

With future smartphone technology looking so good, it makes sense to go over what we covered one more time:
1. Blockchain that will make future smartphones more secure than ever before.
2. Alternate Realities that combine the real and the imaginary.
3. Holograms as future smartphones features that allow us to ‘grab’ what’s being projected.
Enjoy what’s to come!

Here’s Why You Should Invest in a Mobile Website Before a Mobile Application

Mobile apps or websites: a question virtually all business today have to ask as they decide how to establish a mobile presence. After all, Google announced a while back they were enacting a mobile-first index in which they would start using a business’ mobile site for ranking purposes — a signal to turn mobile if any.

Both are great, but if you’re going to introduce yourself to your industry, you may have to choose one before you venture into the other.

Keep in mind that both are usually needed in the long-run. This, of course, depends on what exactly your business does, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find a brand that won’t benefit from one or the other.

For one, a website is absolutely perfect for discovery and promoting brand awareness. Apps, on the other hand, excel in engagement and promoting brand loyalty.

But, and this is a big but, while both should ultimately be created, today we’re going to discuss why a mobile website takes precedence over their application counterparts.

In doing so, we’ll discuss the difference between mobile apps and websites, why a website should be your initial go-to, and finally, when it makes sense to opt for a mobile app first instead.

What are Some Differences Between Mobile Apps and Mobile Sites?

Starting with the differences between apps and sites, a mobile website is just like any other website consisting of browser-based HTML pages accessed over the internet, albeit made specifically for mobile devices.

Quick tip: Always choose a responsive website that resizes content for the screen it resides in over a mobile-specific site, but that’s a discussion for another day.

Like websites, applications pull content and data from the internet, but they go beyond by being able to download the content for offline usage.

Side note: You also have the option of getting a progressive web app that can be described as an amalgamation of a site and app.

Unlike websites, apps are downloaded from device-specific marketplaces like Apple’s App Store and Android’s Google Play and are installed on mobile devices. As such, they can be accessed even when there’s no internet connection, although actual functionality may be hindered if a connection is required for usage.

App vs. Website Usage: Why Websites Should Come First

Choosing to start with a website over an app (or vice versa) comes down to what your end goals are.
For example, if you want to introduce a game to the market, starting with an app is a good idea. If, on the other hand, you want to publish content to as wide an audience as possible, a website is a way to go.

But, seeing as how the vast majority of businesses fall on the latter category, today’s discussion centers on why a website should come first.

For starters, let’s talk about compatibility. Whereas mobile websites can be accessed by all devices, regardless of operating system (OS), applications are restricted to a single OS, meaning that multiple apps will need to be developed if you want to reach all users.

Then there’s findability and reach; you want as many people to find you as possible, and websites surpass apps in this capability because they’re there for all to see. This is because, as we just covered, apps are restricted to devices and their OS, and websites can be found with a simple Google search that encompasses the entire web.

Additionally, you have to think of your user’s commitment; websites come with less commitment because all you have to do is visit them to see their content. Apps are different because there’s an initial download required before you can see what they have to offer, leading to fewer downloads when compared to page visits.

Out of commitment comes immediacy, which is how available a website or app truly is. Because they can be accessed by pretty much all browsers on all devices, websites are readily available for all, unlike apps that, again, need to be installed first.

You also have to consider that nothing is static; things change and apps and sites both need to be upgraded and updated from time to time. In other words, upgradability.

Because website updates like layout or content changes can be published instantly for all users, any change only needs to be made once and everyone benefits. Apps, on the other hand, need to be updated user-by-user (if the app store accepts the update in the first place), and an updated created for each OS.

Finally, like most business endeavors, you need to consider your budget. While both sites and apps can be developed with templates that make the whole process cheaper and easier as a whole, mobile apps are generally more expensive to create and maintain.

Therefore, while you may need both at some point, it’s always best to start with a website, and once your budget allows it, extend to a mobile app.

Final Thoughts: When a Mobile App Comes out on Top

It’s not always the case that a website should be developed before a mobile app. For example, opting for an app first is best for those developing interactive content like games that are meant for mobile use.

In this case, a product—the app—should be developed and deployed first, followed by the website that points users toward the app.
Along with a similar vein, if you’re using native functionalities like a camera, gyroscopes or sensors, you’ll do best with an app that can access all of these and more, as websites will usually be unable to do so.

Finally, when an internet connection isn’t required for use, or when content can be downloaded and used offline, such as a dictionary with content that can be refreshed whenever there’s a connection, an app will generally serve you better.

But, like we briefly touched on earlier, because the points for website-first development relate to more brands than the ones for app-first, it’s recommended to invest in a mobile website before a mobile application.

Best of luck!

The Importance of Managing Your Mobile App Permissions

source: wired.com

Smartphones are what they are because of the applications they house. Without them, they wouldn’t be smartphones; they’d be phones.

Whether it’s an app that counts how many steps you’ve taken, an app that lets you browse your social feed, or an app to edit your pictures until they’re perfect for Instagram, mobile apps are what makes our phones smart, and what makes them so hard to put down.

But, and this is a big but, have you ever stopped to think about what your favorite apps are doing with your data?

The thing is, many of us don’t think twice about the permissions we give our mobile apps after tapping the initial “Allow” when first opening them. Based on everything we’ve been hearing on the news lately about privacy and misuses of data, this is definitely not a good idea.

Permissions and Mobile Apps

Before we get to that why it’s not a good idea to stay in the dark about permissions, let’s do a quick overview on what they actually are.

App permissions are the privileges we give them; they’re what we allow our apps to do or not do with our phones and data. For example, whether we allow an app to access our phone’s camera or microphone.

For the most part, developers stick to what’s important. They’ll only request permission for something if it’s important for the app’s function, such as allowing an image editing app to access your photos.

That being said, app permissions to avoid are those that don’t impede on the app’s function. So if it’s not important to you, such as allowing an app to send you to push notifications, feel free to disallow it.

If you experience difficulties with that app after disabling the permission, such as trying to take a photo through a messaging app after disabling Camera access, simply turn it back on.

Why and How to Manage Your App Permissions

Now that we’ve covered app permissions, it’s time to talk about why and how to manage them.
For starters, you probably spend a lot of time on your apps, whether it’s messaging your friends, checking up on emails or watching movies. In other words, the more time you spend on those apps, the more data you’re feeding them.

Keep in mind that this isn’t inherently bad, after all, your apps need some permissions to work properly. But, there’s also a lot behind the scenes with some apps you may be unaware of.

For instance, why they need access to a specific permission even though it’s not entirely clear why it’s even needed in the first place. Because of this, it’s always important to audit your apps every now and then to ensure they’re not reaching beyond their means — example, if a video streaming app wants access to your Contacts.

It comes down to the fact that you need full control over all your data, and you can only do this by actually knowing what your apps are accessing.

Seeing as how iOS and Android are two of the most popular operating systems with mobile phones, let’s cover how to manage app permissions with these two.

Managing Your iOS App Permission List

Starting with iOS, because most devices that run on it are quite similar in terms of permissions, this guide should work for all.

To begin, find your phone’s app permission setting by going to Settings and tapping on Privacy.
Instead of seeing a list of apps and tapping on each to see its permissions, here you’ll see a list of all permissions, which you can use to find a specific one to see which apps have access to it.

Once you know which permission to manage, tap on it to see a list of apps that fall under it. If you want to turn the permission off for that specific app, simply tap on the app and you’ll be presented with a couple of options.

For instance, if we’re looking at the permission to access Photos, and from there the Facebook Messenger app, you’ll land on a screen with two options: “Never” or “Read and Write” (never is no and read and write is yes).

If you instead look at the Microphone permission, you’ll see a screen with the apps with that permission, which you can turn on or off by tapping on the slider. For another permission, let’s say Apple Health, you have more options, such as tracking how many hours you sleep or steps you’ve taken.

If, on the other hand, you want to get down to the nitty-gritty and go app by app instead of permission by permission, scroll past Privacy (don’t tap on it) until you see a list of all your apps.

To see exactly what each app has access to, tap on whichever one you want to see. After tapping, you’ll see a detailed menu of what that app can or can’t do.

For example, tapping on the Amazon app will show you that you can give it access to:
● Camera
● Siri & Search
● Notifications
● Background App Refresh
● Cellular Data
Additionally, you can choose to allow biometric authentication for sign-in if your phone has that capability.

For other apps, the process is the same, so feel free to check up on whichever you want.

Managing Your Android App Permission List

Moving to Android, there’s a lot of variety when it comes to devices that use it, and today we’ll be focusing on the Google Pixel. Like iOS, the process is similar for most, so this should be fine regardless of which Android device you have.

To begin, open Settings and go to the Apps & Notifications menu. Here, tap on a specific app you want to check.

Once on that app’s menu, tap Permissions to see everything it has access to, such as Location Services, Photos, Camera and more.

If you want to turn off a specific permission, simply tap on it. Keep in mind that if the permission is vital for the app to function properly, you may have to accept a confirmation that you do indeed wish to turn that permission off.

Simple as that. Like iOS, feel free to go through all your apps to make sure they’re only accessing what you want them to access.

Final Thoughts

Compared to the past, data is worth more than ever today — it’s the currency of choice for many.
For this very reason, it’s that much more important to manage your data and ensure it’s not falling in the wrong hands.

So be it your location or your contacts list, whatever it is, you need to know exactly who has access to it and why.

Good luck!